AIK coach will try and stop Celtic from scoring to win

By Connor Gordon

August 22, 2019

AIK coach believes defence will be greater than attack in order to beat Celtic tonight.

The Swede’s number two Sean O’Shea believes a clean sheet could be better than goals.

A Celtic fan, O’Shea knows what it takes when it comes to a European night at Parkhead. The Irishman knows if AIK dry up the goals then they have a strong chance of progressing.

AIK coach wants Celtic goal draught tonight

The champions of Sweden and Scotland square off this evening in the Europa League play-off tie.

Cluj celebrating at full time after Celtic win. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Both sides come into the match not on the greatest form due to a difficult last week.

Cluj shocked Parkhead by putting on a late show to knock the Hoops out by scoring four. The Bhoys were unfortunate to go out by still scoring three.

Celtic’s netting record is something that O’Shea wants to keep to a zero this evening.

He told the 42: “We’ve got a gameplan to hopefully try to stop them from scoring, because they still did score three goals at home.

Ryan Christie scoring against Cluj. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It gives you a feeling that you’ve a chance, but you obviously have to go there and pull off a very good gameplan to get something out of it and still be in it at least when we come back to Stockholm.”

AIK coach thinks players will ‘buzz’ off Celtic Park

Parkhead might not be filled to capacity tonight for many reasons but that isn’t going to matter to AIK.

The club are still selling tickets and will do so until the final hour.

Many fans are voting with their feet due to the performances, the transfer situation and being knocked out the Champions League to Cluj.

Celtic Park during an early unattended Europa League campaign in 2014. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, the tens of thousands that will support their team tonight will try and spur the Celts on.

However, O’Shea thinks the noise will help AIK thrive.

He said: “I know the atmosphere [at Celtic Park] can be intense and intimidating, but I think our players will get a buzz off that.”

The Swedes play to 40/50,000 in derby matches and are very familiar with it.

Those in attendance tonight need to back the team for the 90 minutes as the flat first 45 last Tuesday showed. A couple of goals puts the Celts in the driving seat for another crack at a doable Europa League.